Device for spring-loading a needleless innoculator

ABSTRACT

The within improved innoculator is of the type that causes the injection of medication without a skin-penetrating needle, relying instead on a skin-penetrating jet produced by the force of a released compression spring, wherein the improvement resides in a mechanical device for effectively loading the spring of the innoculator.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 719,733, filed on Sept. 2,1976 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,512.

The present invention relates generally to medication-dispensinginnoculators which function without an injection needle, such as theinnoculator of my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,594, and more particularlyto an effective device for mechanically loading or placing the springwhich operates the innoculator under compression preparatory toinnoculating service thereof.

In its basic construction and mode of operation, except as hereinafternoted, the within needleless innoculator is similar to that of my priorpatented innoculator of U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,594, which patent isincorporated by reference herein. Both innoculators, as generallyunderstood, by avoiding the use of a skin-penetrating injection needlecorrespondingly avoid pain and anxiety for the patient. For theseinnoculators, and those designed by others, the medication is dispensedin a jet stream of sufficient force, produced by a released compressionspring, to penetrate the patient's skin with significantly diminishedpain and physical awareness by the patient.

With the needleless innoculator, the jet-producing spring thereof mustbe compressed or loaded prior to each use, a requirement whichheretofore has not been solved in a totally satisfactory manner. Mypreviously patented innoculator, noted above, uses the magnetic field ofa solenoid coil to produce the necessary relative movement of theinnoculator components to latch the propelling spring in its compressedstate, after which the innoculator is then readily removed from withinthe demagnetized solenoid coil. Although my patented innoculator avoidsany complicated mechanisms requiring coupling to, and uncoupling from,the device which loads the spring, since all that is necessary is toinsert the innoculator within and remove it from the solenoid coil, itis necessary to have this electrical component and thus, of course,access to electricity. There is no known device for loading the springof a needleless innoculator mechanically, i.e. without an electricallypowered device, that is effective and avoids complicated couplingmechanisms. This is undoubtedly because the gripping engagement of thedepending end of the slidable inner core of the innoculator must be firmto cause compressing movement thereof against the resistance of thepropelling spring, and such firmness in this gripping engagement ofnecessity must involve clamps and a clamping function.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedneedleless innoculator overcoming the foregoing and other shortcomingsof the prior art. Specifically, it is an object to provide a mechanicaldevice into which, and from which, the innoculator is readily movable,but which operates to effectively cause loading or compression of theinnoculator spring preparatory to medication-dispensing service of theinnoculator.

As already noted, the within needleless innoculator is of the typehaving an inner core depending from an external housing which isslidable in said housing under the propulsion of a spring incident todispensing medication. In combination with such an innoculator there isprovided a device for mechanically loading the innoculator spring whichincludes a base on which there is a stationary shaft defining a rotationaxis and having circumferentially spaced holding teeth radiallyextending therefrom. This shaft is mounted in a clearance position onthe base and a housing member, including means defining aconnector-receiving compartment oriented transversely of and in facingcommunication with the stationary shaft, is operatively arranged topartake of a pivotal traverse in eccentric relation about the stationaryshaft. Additionally, a connector is provided having an operativeinserted position within the connector-receiving compartment, saidconnector having a depending end with lateral means projecting therefromfor establishing meshing engagement with the holding teeth of thestationary shaft during said pivotal traverse thereof. In the oppositeend of the connector there is an opening bounding aninnoculator-receiving compartment for the inner core depending end.Completing the mechanical device is innoculator gripping meanscircumferentially spaced about the last named compartment openingmovable from a starting position radially inward for establishinggripping contact with the depending inner core, but only after initialangular movement of the connector through said pivotal traverse. Due tothis delay in establishing gripping contact, the depending innoculatorinner core end is readily inserted and removed from the device in itsoperative position when, as noted, there is an absence of establishedgripping contact as occurs prior to and during said initial angularmovement, but otherwise the innoculator is held by said establishedgripping contact for the loading of its propelling spring as occursduring the balance of the angular movement of said pivotal traverse.

The above brief description, as well as further objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated byreference to the following detailed description of a presentlypreferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance withthe present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary spring-powered needlelessinnoculator and its cooperating inventive device hereof for mechanicallyloading the spring of this innoculator;

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the sequence in which the spring of theinnoculator is compressed or loaded. More particularly, FIG. 2 is aperspective view, with portions partially broken away to illustrateinternal structural features, which illustrates the manner in which thedepending end of the innoculator is inserted and removed from thespring-loading device, the same being in its starting or endingcondition, as the case may be, and thus prior to the establishment ofgripping contact with said innoculator depending end as is necessary toproduce compression or loading of the innoculator spring;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, in longitudinal cross-section, whichillustrates how gripping contact is established with the innoculatordepending end so as to result in compression of the innoculator spring,the same occurring as a result of a pivotal traverse throughapproximately 90 degrees, i.e. a traverse from the position illustratedin FIG. 2 to that illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the various components whichcomprise the spring-loading device hereof, some of the components beingillustrated in longitudinal cross-section so as to better illustrateinternal structural features thereof.

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is an exemplary needleless innoculator, generallydesignated 10, which, for present purposes, may be understood to beconstructed and to operate substantially similar to the innoculatorillustrated and described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,594, which isincorporated by this reference in its entirety herein. As is generallyunderstood, a needleless innoculator utilizes a spring or a springequivalent, such as belleville washers, to urge an inner core 12 throughmovement within an external housing 14 so as to cause the dispensing ofmedication from an exit opening 16 with sufficient force to actuallypenetrate through a patient's skin and thus enable an injection ofmedication without actually using a skin-piercing needle. As is furtherunderstood, the forces involved require the use of a heavy compressionspring, the compression or loading of which in turn presents aformidable problem. In the case of the patented innoculator previouslyreferred to, the loading of the spring thereof is accomplished byfabricating the innoculator depending end 12 of a magnetizable materialand disposing the same in a loading device which includes a solenoidcoil in surrounding relation to said depending end 12. It is furtherprovided that when the solenoid coil is energized, that this iseffective in causing relative movement of the inner core 12 relative tothe external housing 14 which results in compression of the propellingspring. The spring is maintained in its compressed state by a latch 18which, of course, is released subsequently when the innoculator end 16is in injecting relation to the patient. As an alternative to theelectrical means for loading the spring of the innoculator 10 there isherein proposed a device 20 for mechanically achieving this result.Mechanical device 20 is characterized by being more simply constructedand operated, is less expensive, and of course does not requireelectricity for its operation, as well as providing other noteworthyadvantages and benefits.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the spring-loading device 20 of the presentinvention includes an assembly of components, generally designated 22,having an upper cylindrical opening 24 in which the dependinginnoculator end 12 is inserted, and after which the two aresimultaneously urged through a pivotal traverse 26 which loads orcompresses the spring of the innoculator. Next, the assembly is returnedin a reverse pivotal direction to the starting position illustrated inFIG. 1, in which the innoculator is then readily withdrawn from theopening 24. Thus, in accordance with this very simple procedure, theinnoculator 10 is prepared for medication-dispensing service.

Before explaining in detail how the operation of the device 20, and moreparticularly the pivotal traverse 26 of assembly 22 thereof achievesloading of the innoculator spring, it should first be noted that it issignificant that the innoculator depending end 12 is readily insertedand removed from the opening 24 in the FIG. 1 position of device 20.That is although firm gripping contact is ultimately made with thedepending end 12 so that there can be relative movement between theinner core and the external housing 14 so as to load the spring which isoperatively disposed therebetween, in the upright or starting and endingcondition of assembly 22, there is a significant lack of grippingcontact established with the innoculator depending end 12 so that it canbe readily inserted and removed. Stated another way, the grippingcontact which results in the loading of the spring is established onlyafter initial angular movement 28, and remains for the balance of thepivotal traverse 26 when it is required for purposes of loading theinnoculator spring. In this simple and effective way, therefore, thedevice 20 avoids any need for complicated structure for firmly engaging,and then effectuating disengaging from, the innoculator depending end12, even though such engagement exists during the loading of the springthereof.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 which illustrate structuraldetails of the device 20. Molded as an integral part of an anti-tippingplate 30 are two spaced walls 32 and 34 which are formed or providedwith cylindrical openings 36, 38 respectively. A stationary shaft 40with laterally extending hubs or trunions 42 and 44 is mounted to extendin spanning relation between the walls 32 and 34, the hub 42 beinginserted in the opening 38 and the opposite hub 44 in the opening 36.Completing the shaft 40 are a series of circumfernetially spacedradially extending teeth, individually and collectively designated 52,the function of which will soon be described.

Opening 36 is sized to receive the shaft with teeth 52. After insertionof member 40 a sleeve bushing 46 is inserted between hub 44 and opening36. To hold the shaft 40 against rotation and thus to maintain itstationary and also to secure bushing 46, use is made of a locking pin48, which is inserted in bores 47a, 47b and 47c. As shown in FIG. 1, adecorative cover 51 may be affixed by any conventional means to coverthe shaft end.

The remainder of device 20, or what was previously identified asassembly 22, actually consists, in a preferred embodiment, of fourunits. One unit is a pivotally traversable housing, generally designated54, which has a curved wall 56 which bounds an internal cylindricalopening 58 which in the assembled condition of the unit 20 accommodatesthe shaft 40 and permits the housing 54 to be pivotally traversableabout the shaft 40. In this connection, member 54 also includes atransversely oriented cylindrical opening 60 which intersects thecylindrical opening 58 and, at said intersection, such as at 63, thereis an opening in facing communication with the opening 58. Thus, thatwhich is disposed in the opening 60, as will soon be described, can anddoes effectively make physical contact with the stationary shaft 40which is operatively disposed in the horizontally oriented opening 58,this contact being made through the opening 63.

Operatively disposed in the vertically oriented opening 60 is unit 62which actually forms the connection, during the loading of theinnoculator spring, between the innoculator and the loading device 20.Connector 62 includes a depending cylindrical portion 64 which has rackand pinion-type teeth, individually and collectively designated 66. Inthe assembled condition of the connector 62 within the housing 54, teeth66 establish meshing engagement with teeth 52 of the stationary shaft40, all as will be subsequently explained in detail. Completing theconstruction of connector 62 is an integral annular upper portion 68with circumferentially spaced openings 70 which each has cooperting ballbearing or ball means 71 positioned therein. More particularly, as willbe explained in detail subsequently, each ball 71 is confined generallywithin a cone-shaped opening 70, which is tapered inwardly toward thecenter of annular member 68 and, more specifically, is moved from astarting position outwardly of annular member 68 into a radially inwardposition, the latter position enabling it to establish gripping contactwith the innoculator depending end 12 preparatory to loading the springthereof.

The remaining units of assembly 22 are cylindrical units, generallydesignated 72 and 78, which are assembled to each other and thenassembled to the housing unit 54 by force fitting the counterboreopening 74 of cylinder 72 about the upstanding grip 76 of housing 54.Unit 78, also generally cylindrical is shape like cylinder 72, butpreferably fabricated of plastic, is force fit or otherwise attached tothe cylinder 72 by inserting the depending cylindrical portion 80thereof within the upper counterbore 82.

The operation of the device 20 will now be explained with particularreference to FIGS. 2 and 3. In the starting position illustrated in FIG.2, the assembled components 22 have the generally vertically orientedattitude as illustrated. Innoculator 10 is inserted with opening 24,with the result that the external housing 14 which surrounds the innercore 12 abuts against the radially extending lip 82 of the cylindricalextension 72 of the pivotally traversable housing 54. Also strategicallylocated at this time below the ball gripping means 71 which are disposedwithin openings in the upper annular portion 68 of the connector 62 is alaterally extending lip 84 on the depending end of the inner core 12. Itshould be noted that the diameter for the lip 84 and for the annularportion 68 are selected to allow easy passage of the core 12 into andout of the upper portion of the connector 62 when the balls 71 areradially outwardly disposed as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it should be noted that at least one tooth 66of the connector 62 is in meshing engagement, as at 86, with acooperating radially extending tooth 52 of the stationary shaft 40.Because of this meshing engagement which is maintained between the teeth66 and 52, but not necessarily the same teeth, this meshing engagementbeing progressively advanced about the shaft 40 as the housing 54 isurged through its pivotal traverse 26, it of course must follow that theconnector 62, other than partaking of the pivotal traverse is not movedaxially along the opening 60. That is, since shaft 40 is stationary,then obviously connector 62 because of meshing engagement established atpoint 86 cannot move beyond this point of established contact. Thus,connector 62 cannot advance along the cylindrical opening 60 in thedirection of the innoculator 10. However, there is clearance 88 beneaththe connector 62 which is ultimately occupied by the cylindricalconnector body 64 as housing 54 is urged through its pivotal traverse26, thereby causing relative movement between the connector 62 and thepivotally traversable housing 54. Stated another way, during the pivotaltraverse 26, the rotation axis for the connector 62 occurs at theinterface 86 of the meshing teeth 52 and 66, whereas the rotation axisfor the housing member 54 is the stationary shaft 40, and thus these tworotation axes for these members result in differential movementtherebetween.

The result of the foregoing can be better understood by reference toFIG. 3 which illustrates the housing member 54 after its pivotaltraverse 26. As indicated in this figure, the depending cylindricalportion 64 of the connector 62 is still in meshing engagement with thestationary shaft 40, although contact 86 therebetween has been advancedin the direction of the pivotal traverse. Differential movement hasresulted in the connector 62 occupying practically all of the clearance88 which originally existed beneath the cylindrical portion 64. Moreimportant, the relative position of the connector 62 within the housing54 is one in which the annular upper portion 68 of the connector 62 iscarried well below a conical cam surface 90 appropriately machined aboutthe upper end of the cylindrical opening 61 of the cylindrical extension72 of housing 54. As a consequence, the gripping balls 71 are cammedradially inward during passing over the conical cam surface 90 and areheld in this inward condition during contact with the surface boundingthe opening 61 during relative movement between the connector 62 and thehousing 54 as occurs during the pivotal traverse 26. As clearly shown inFIG. 3, this radially inward position of the gripping balls 71 defines asmaller diameter than the laterally extending lip 84 of the innoculatorinner core 12, and thus there is effective gripping contact establishedbetween the connector 62 and the inner core 12 at circumferentiallyspaced locations, individually and collectively designated 92. Grippingcontact established at these multiple locations 92 has been found inpractice to be firm enough and adequate to withstand the forcesgenerated during the compression loading of the innoculator spring,designated 94 in FIG. 3, which is operatively disposed or seated betweencooperating lateral projections 96 and 98 of the inner core 12 andstationary housing 14, respectively, of the innoculator 10. Once spring94 is effectively compressed, as generally understood, latch 18 (againreferring to FIG. 3), engages the inner core 12 at an annular ring 100mounted thereabout to maintain the operative axially displaced positionsbetween the innoculator external housing 14 and slidable inner core 12.

Following the latching of the innoculator inner core 12, the pivotaltraversable assembly 22, and more particularly the housing 54 thereof,is urged through a reverse direction pivotal traverse about thestationary shaft 40, thus returning it to its starting FIG. 2 position.This, of course, results in relative movement between the connector 62and housing member 54 which positions the gripping balls 71 above thecam surface 90, thus allowing the balls 71 to move radially outward intothe counterbore 102 of the cylindrical extension 72. As already noted,this releases the balls 71 from their gripping contact at the locations92 with the laterally extending lip 84 of the inner core 12. In theabsence of this established gripping contact between the connector 62 ofthe inner core 12, the innoculator 10 is of course then free to bereadily removed from within the opening 24, and it is in its requiredspring-loaded condition preparatory to being used formedication-dispensing service.

To facilitate handling by the user, pin 104 must engage slot 106. Thisinsures that the user will have the apparatus properly oriented aftercocking.

From the foregoing description it should be readily appreciated thatdevice 20 described herein, and particularly the mode of operationthereof which contemplates establishing gripping contact with the innercore 12 of the innoculator 10 only after an initial angular movement ofthe power or spring-loading traverse 26, provides a significantlyeffective device for preparing the needleless innoculator 10 for use.Specifically, the innoculator 10 in its inserted condition within theassembly 22, due to its length, functions somewhat as a lever and hasthe mechanical advantages thereof, so that it is relatively simple tourge the assembly through the portion of the pivotal traverse 26 whichresults in the compression loading of the propelling spring. Also, asalready noted, in the generally upright or FIG. 2 position of device 20,there is a desired absence of any gripping contact with the dependingend 12 of the innoculator so that it is not only readily inserted withinthe opening 24 prior to loading the spring, but also it is readilyremoved therefrom after the spring has been loaded.

While the apparatus has been described as embodied in a needlelessinnoculator, the invention is useful for compressing springs in otherspring-actuated devices, such as guns, punches, hammers, etc. The termmedication as used in the claim is intended to encompass other liquidswhether or not intended for medicinal purposes.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in theforegoing disclosure and in some instances some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the invention herein.

We claim:
 1. In combination, an apparatus of the type having an innercore depending from an external housing and slidable therein under thepropulsion of a spring incident to powering the apparatus to performwork, and a device for mechanically loading said spring preparatory tosaid work service of said apparatus, said device comprising a base, astationary shaft defining a rotation axis and having circumferentiallyspaced holding teeth radially extending therefrom mounted in a clearanceposition on said base, a housing member including means defining aconnector-receiving compartment oriented transversely of and in facingcommunication with said stationary shaft, said connector-receivingcompartment of said housing member being operatively arranged to partakeof a pivotal traverse in eccentric relation about said stationary shaft,a connector having an operative inserted position within saidconnector-receiving compartment, said connector having a depending endwith lateral means projecting therefrom for establishing meshingengagement with said holding teeth of said stationary shaft during saidpivotal traverse thereof, and apparatus gripping means circumferentiallyspaced about said opening movable from a starting position radiallyinward for establishing gripping contact with said depending inner coreonly after initial angular movement of said connector through saidpivotal traverse thereof, whereby said depending apparatus inner coreend is readily inserted and removed from said device in the absence ofestablished gripping contact therewith during said initial angularmovement but otherwise is held by said established gripping contact forthe loading of said propelling spring during the balance of the angularmovement of said pivotal traverse.
 2. The combination of claim 1 whereinsaid apparatus serves as a lever arm for moving said housing member. 3.A device for spring-loading an apparatus as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid apparatus gripping means are ball means of said connector and acooperating camming surface of said housing member encountered by saidball means only after said initial angular movement of said pivotaltraverse which causes relative movement between said connector and saidhousing member.
 4. A device for spring-loading an apparatus as definedin claim 3 wherein said depending inner core includes a lateral lipwhich is engaged by said ball means in said radially inward cammedposition thereof, and said camming surface of said housing member isarranged to extend for an extent which contributes to said radiallyinward cammed position of said ball means for an angular extentcoextensive with all but an initial angle of said pivotal traverse.
 5. Adevice for spring-loading an apparatus as defined in claim 4 whereinsaid external housing extends in surrounding relation about said innercore thereof, and said housing member includes an annular upper surfaceagainst which said external housing is in pushing contact during saidpivotal traverse while said inner core is held against such pushingmovement by said established contact thereof with said connector in turnin meshing engagement with said stationary shaft holding teeth.
 6. Adevice for spring-loading an apparatus as defined in claim 5 whereinsaid base includes spaced apart walls, said stationary shaft beingmounted in spanning relation between said walls, and said housing memberbeing pivotally traversable about said stationary shaft in the clearancebetween said walls.